Hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers decided against extending the $19.65 million qualifying offer to Clayton Kershaw for the 2023 season, he reportedly agreed to re-sign on a one-year contract worth a projected $17-20 million.
It represented a second consecutive offseason the Dodgers did not attach a qualifying offer to Kershaw, instead giving him the opportunity to decide his future without any additional pressure. The respect between player and organization is second-to-none when it comes to the 34-year-old lefty and what he means to the franchise.
With the team eagerly working the top-end free agent market to fill different spots on their roster, Kershaw’s deal that was reported in early November still hasn’t become official.
According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, that’s merely due to Kershaw not yet taking his physical
It is strange that Kershaw’s re-signing hasn’t become official, but I’m told nothing is wrong. It’s just a delayed physical.
The Dodgers would love a repeat of Kershaw’s 2022 statistics in which he posted a 2.28 ERA, 2.57 FIP and 0.94 WHIP while maintaining a 12-3 record. Kershaw started the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, and also passed Don Sutton to become the Dodgers all-time strikeouts leader.
Even with Kershaw, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has been active in the starting pitcher market, recently meeting with free agent Justin Verlander.
By all accounts, that went particularly well and according to some around the league, the Dodgers are the favorites to sign the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
How Dodgers rotation looks behind Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías
With Tyler Anderson signing with the Los Angeles Angels after rejecting the qualifying offer, Friedman lost a stable and valuable piece to the Dodgers starting rotation. The 32-year-old went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA across 30 games (28 starts) and earned his first All-Star Game selection.
Without him, manager Dave Roberts will rely heavily on Kershaw, who was fantastic but dealt with two stints on the injured list for his back, Julio Urías turned in the best season of his career and became the workhorse of the staff.
Behind those two L.A. has Tony Gonsolin, who battled fatigue down the stretch, and Dustin May who will have a full allotment of time in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
The need to sign a free-agent starter behind those four is almost paramount because of the uncertainty of their MLB-ready options, if not to head a staff, at least to compliment their already solid top-end.
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